Georgia linebacker Jalon Walker is no stranger to excellence. After a standout season in 2024, Walker was crowned the winner of the prestigious Butkus Award, given to the nation’s best linebacker. Despite this recognition, however, Walker has been inexplicably snubbed in other major honors, particularly by the Associated Press (AP) All-America selections.
Although Georgia had five players named to the AP All-America teams, including guard Dylan Fairchild, punter Brett Thorson, safety Maliki Starks, and guard Tate Ratledge, Walker’s placement on the third-team was a head-scratcher. It’s hard to understand how the nation’s top linebacker could land on the third-team, especially after his impressive play throughout the season. Many expected Walker to earn first-team honors given his dominant performances for Georgia’s defense.
This slight raises further questions about the reliability of the AP All-America voting process. While Fairchild, Starks, and Ratledge are deserving of their selections, Walker’s minimal recognition is an oddity, especially when his Butkus Award and overall performance paint a much different picture.
Despite the snub, Walker’s ultimate goal remains intact: the Butkus Award. It’s a victory he’s earned through hard work and consistency. As Kirby Smart, Georgia’s head coach, noted, winning the Butkus was one of Walker’s primary objectives from the moment he joined the program. Now, with a chance to secure a second National Championship, Walker’s focus remains on his team’s pursuit of more titles.
While the AP All-American team may have overlooked Walker, his achievements speak for themselves. As Georgia enters the postseason, Walker’s impact on the field will undoubtedly be felt in the quest for another national championship.
